The future of the Italian national team could hinge on a meeting that took place away from the spotlight. According to Sky Sport Italia, last weekend Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo travelled to Barcelona to meet with Pep Guardiola.
The face-to-face aimed to assess whether the former Manchester City coach would be open to taking charge of the Azzurri project.
This concrete contact has reignited the possibility of Guardiola being among the candidates for the Italy bench.
Meanwhile, the president of the FIGC, Giovanni Malagò, speaking again to Sky Sport, confirmed that the race for the head coach position is not limited to the names that have emerged in recent weeks.
"There are other names as well," he explained, referring to a list that already includes Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo.
Malagò also reiterated that the final decision will not depend solely on the availability of the candidates, but must also be compatible with the federation's 2026 budget.
The search for the new head coach, therefore, remains open and Guardiola's name continues to fuel speculation and rumours.